HRC launches grassroots effort in Illinois to combat lies by LDS church
March 4, 2009
HRC sent out a strongly worded statement today regarding what the Mormon church is doing in Illinois this week. We learned today from Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent a private e-mail to its Illinois members urging them to contact state legislators and voice opposition to civil unions legislation currently under consideration. The e-mail, authorized by Bishop Chris Church of the Nauvoo, Illinois 3rd Ward, says that civil unions legislation would “empower the public schools to begin teaching this lifestyle to our young children regardless of parental requests otherwise.” It declares ominously,“it will also create grounds for rewriting all social mores.” Jim has posted the email here. The LDS church has notably utilized private networks to torpedo pro-LGBT policies in the past, most recently in their home state of Utah, where Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative was systematically killed in the state legislature. Most notoriously, the LDS church funneled millions of dollars into California last year to pass Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that stripped lesbian and gay couples of the right to marry in the state. Bruce Bastian, a member of HRC's Board of Directors and former member of the LDS church, came out swinging in HRC's release:
It is irrefutably clear that the LDS Church is fighting an anti-gay crusade throughout the nation, targeting any form of equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. Church leaders want nothing more than to do their hateful work in secrecy, but the time has come to shine a light on their insidious efforts. If the LDS Church won't tell the truth, we will.
In addition to the release, HRC launched an online action to our 35,000 members and supporters in Illinois. The action alert asks our members to contact the Nauvoo, Illinois Mormon Temple and and their elected officials to voice their support of HB 2234. The alert can be viewed here. The Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (HB 2234) has been scheduled for a hearing in the Illinois House of Representatives Youth and Family Committee this week on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in Springfield, IL.
